Thermo-electric generator.



F. D. SHINDEL.

THEHMO ELECTRIC GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED 0CT.29, 1915. RENEWED SEPT. 1. 1911.

1,286,429. Patented Dec. 3,1918.

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THERMO ELECTRIC GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED 01:1.29. I915- RENEWED SEPT. I. 1911.

1,286,429. Patented Dec. 3, 1918. Y

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

FRANK D. SHIN DEL, 0F NORTHAMPTON, IENNSYLVANIA.

THEBMO-ELECTBIC GENERATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented-Dec. a, 1918.

Application filed October 29, 1915, Serial No. 58,708. Renewed September7, 1917. Serial No. 190,271.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK D. SHINDEL, a. citizen of the United States,and a resident of Northampton, in the county of Northampton and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new andImproved Thermo-Elec tricGenerator, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to generators of electric current, and moreparticularly to thermo-electric generators. y

The invention has for its general objects to improve and simplify theconstructionjof apparatus of this character so as to be reliable andefficient in use, comparatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture,and so designed as to be of high 'efiiciency and low internal ohmicresistance.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a thermo-electricgenerator in which the couples of dissimilar metal are so arranged as tobe eifectively heated and cooled in such a way and at such points as toproduce a current of maximum strength for an apparatus of minimum size.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of a generatorin which the couples of dissimilar metal are of annular form and soarranged as to produce a hollow cylindrical structure the interior ofwhich may be heated by gases from a special burner or by gases passingoff through a smoke stack, chimney, stove flue or the like, whereby theinner edges of the couples are heated, the outer edges being cooled bythe flow of water or other cooling liquid, and further by the flow ofcold air supplied to the burner when a special burner is required forthe generator.

Another object is the provision of automatic regulating means wherebythe heating and cooling are regulated according to the consumption ofcurrent in the circuit supplied by the generator, the regulating beingeffected by means for controlling the cooling water supply or the heat,or both.

With such objects in view, and others which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention comprises various novel features ofconstruction and arrangement of parts which will be set forth withparticularity in the following description and claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of theinvention being of the same diameter and oppositely dished so that theinner edges will lie in different planes from the outer edges. The ringsare arranged in superimposed relation with the inner marginal portionsof the lIOIl rings 2 in contact with the top of the lnner marginalportions of the copper rings 1, and the outer marginal portions of theiron rings 2 are in contact with the under sides of the correspondingportions of the copper rings. The contact portions of the rings arefastened together by rivets 3. and also the edges are preferablyelectrically welded so that the very best electrical connections aresecured. The portions of the rings between the inner and outer edges arekept out of contact by interposed rings or washers 4, the mean diametersof which are the same as the mean diameters of the rin 1 and 2. Theseinsulating rings 4 are mag: of compressed asbestos or equivalentmaterial, and alternate rings taper inwardly and outwardly incross-sectional form so as to conform to the zigzag arrangement of theplates or rings 1 and 2. The rings 1. 2 and. 4 are rigidly fastenedtogether by bolts 5' which are suitably insulated from the rim 5 and whch are fastened at their lower ends to a supporting ba e 6. The innerand outer edges of the metallic rings project inwardly and outwardlyrespectively from the insulating rings so that the structure resultingis a hollow cylinder having-internal and external annular metallic ribs.The internal metallic ribs are adapted to be heated in any suitablemanner, as. for instance, by the flue gases passing from a furnace orstove. As shown in the present instance a burner 7 may be arranged inthe bottom of the chamber 8 so that the heated gases will flow upwardlyand efl'ectively heat the inner edges of the metallic couples 1 and 2.The

burner 7 may be of the gas or vapor type and supplied with fuel througha pipe 9 controlled by a hand valve and a regulating valve '11. At thetop of the flue or chamber 8 may be arranged a damper 12 connected withand suspended by a lever 13 which is fulcrumed on a suitable support at14, and this lever 13 is connected by a link 15 with another lever 16,which latter is in turn connected with a rack 17 meshing with a pinion18 on the stem of the valve 11, there being aspring 19 connected with ofeach so that water can flow downwardly l for holding the burner 7. Theupper ends of,

from one trough to another, thereby cooling the metal so that the outeredges of the metallic couples will be considerably lower in temperaturethan are the inner edges. The

copper rings 1 may be standing annular ribs 23 troughs so that there isno danger of water entering between the metallic plates and formingelectric grounds. Disposed over the uppermost trough 21 is an annularpipe 24 having apertures in its bottom to discharge water into suchuppermost trough. This pipe 24 is connected with a supply pipe 25 thathas a hand valve 26 and a regulating valve 27, the stem of which has a.pinion 28 which meshes with the rack bar 17. To further cool the outeredges of the rings 1 and 2 air supply du ts 29 extend vertically throughthe rings, such rings having openings 30 for the passage of the ducts29. The lower ends of these ducts connect with ports 31 which open intoa chamber 32 in the base plate 6 provided with upinwardly from the theducts terminate above the generator and are bent downwardly and open sothat air can enter free from dirt and other particles.

The regulation of the generator is electromechanical. The positive andnegative terminals 33 and 34 are connected with service wires 35 and 36,respe tively, and connected a ross this circuit by Wires 37 and 38 is acoil 39 ofa galvanometer which has a needle 40 that forms a movablecontact adapted to engage with a relatively fixed contact 41 which maybe adjustable for different operating conditions. The contact 40 isconnected by a wire 42 with an ele tromagnet 43 that is also connectedby a wire 44 with the wire 38. One terminal of the ele"tromagnet 20 isconnected by a wire 45 with the wire 37, and the other terminal isadapted to be connected with the wire 38 by wires 46, contacts 47, 48

-flow from the wires 35, 3

and 49, and wire 50. By this arrangement of electrical devices theheating and cooling of the thermoelectric couples of the generator canbe regulated. WVhcn the electric pressure in the supply mains 35 and 36exceeds a certain polnt the contact 40 engages the contact 41 and therebcauses current to and 37,contacts 41 and 40 wire 42, electromagnet 43,wires 44, 38 and 36. This energizing of the electromagnet 43 causes thearmature 43 to be attracted so as to engage the contact 48 with thecontacts 47 and 49, thereby closing the circuit of the magnet 20,resulting in current flowing through the wires 37 and 45, electromagnet20, wire 46, contacts 47, 48, 49, wire 50 and wire 38. The energizing ofthe electromagnet 20 attracts the lever 16 so that the fuel and watervalves 11 and 27 are actuated to out down the supply offuel and water.and at the same time the damper 12 is raised to allow heat to escapefrom the generator. When the foregoing action takes place, fuel andwater being diminished, the voltage of the generator will start to dropand the con tact 40 will thenmove away from contact 41, which will openthe circuit of the magnet 43, whose armature will in turn open thecircuit of the magnet 20, which after being deenergized will permit thespring 19 to open the fuel and water valves to increase the flow in thesame, which will, of course, produce the effect first mentioned; thatis, of the increasing of voltage and causing the contact 40 to movetoward 41. The cycles or frequency of these operations will depend uponthe amount of current taken from the generator.

Referring to the openings 30 in the rings 1 and 2, it will be observedthat only narrow portions are left between adjacent openings, which soreduces the cross-section of the metal tbatthe rapid conduction of heatfrom the inner to the outer edges of the rings is prevented. It will beunderstood that the action of the heat on the inner edges of the rings 1and 2 and of the cold on the outer edges produces electrical pressures,and as the rings are connected in series the pressures are addedtogether so as to develop a considerable ele trolnotive force attheterminals 33 and 34.

From the foregoing descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, the advantages of the construction and will be readilyundermethod of operation stood by those skilled in the art to which theand while I have dethe best embodiment thereof. I desire to have itunderstood that the device shown is merely illustrative and that suchchanges may be made when desired as fall within the scope of theappended claims.

alternately arran ed, insulating material disposed between a jacentrings and co6perating therewith to form a body having interna andexternal ribs formed by the metal rings, a burner in the bottom of thebody for heating the inner edges of the rings, air sup ply ductsextending downwardly through the rings to supply air to the burner andto assist in cooling the outer portions of the rings, and means forsubjecting the outer pidgss of the rings'to the action of a cooling 2.In a thermo-electric generator, the combination ofthermo-couplesconnected in series in the form of rings of dissimilar metal alternatelyarranged,insulatin material disposed between adjacent rings ancooperatin therewith to form a body having internal an exter nal ribsformed by the metal rings, a burner in the bottom of the body forheating the inner edges of the rings, air supply ducts extend ingdownwardly through the rings to supply air to the burner and to assistin cooling the outer portions of therings, means for subjecting theouter edges of the rings to the action of a cooling fluid, and anelectrically regulated damper cooperating with the burner.

'3. The combination of a therino-electric generator, a burner forheating the same, a fluid cooling device for the generator, a damperooperating with the burner, and an electrical means responsive to theterminal voltage of the generator for controlling the damper and thesupply of fuel and cooling fluid to the burner and cooling meansrespectively.

4;. In a thermo-electric generator, a stack of coaxially disposed rings,alternate rings being formed from a given metal and being disheddownwardly and the remaining ringsbeing formed from a dissimilarmetal-and dished upwardly, alternate pairs of neigha0 boring rings beingjoined at their inner edges and the remaining pairs of neighboring ringsbeing joined at their outer edges,means for heating one set ofjunctions. and means providing ducts for cooling fluid traversing saidrings intermediate their inner and outer edges, whereby the transfer ofheat to the other set of junctions is largely prevented.

5.' In a thermo-electric generator, a stack of coaxially disposed rings,alternate rings being formed from a given metal and being disheddownwardly and the remaining rings being formed from a dissimilar metaland dished upwardly, alternate pairs of neighboring rings being joinedat their inner M edges and the remaining pairs of neighboring ringsbeing joined at their outer edges, means for heating the inner set ofjunctions, means for coolin the outer set of unctions and means proviing ducts for cooling fluid traversing said rings intermediate theirinner and outer edges, whereby the transfer of heat to the outer set ofjunctions is largely prevented.

6. In a thermo-electric generator, a stack of coaxially mounted rings,alternate rings being dished upwardly and the remaining rings beingdished downwardly, alternate pairs of immediately adjacent rings beingjoined at their inner edges and the remaining airs of immediatelyad'acent rin s being oined attheir outer e ges, all oined rings being ofdissimilar metals, means for heating one set of junctions, and meansproviding ducts for cooling fluid traversing said rings intermediatetheir inner and outer edges, whereby the transfer of heat to the otherset of junctions is largely prevented.

7. In combination, a thermo-electric generator comprising hot and coldjunctions, means for supplying heat to the hot junctions thereof, meansfor supplying cooling fluid to the cold junctions thereof, andelectro-responsive means subject to the terminal voltage of saidenerator and arranged to control said supp ies of heat and of coolingfluid, respectively.

8. In combination, a thermo-electric generator comprising hot and coldjunctions, means for supplying heat to the hot junctions, means forsupplying cooling fluid to the cold junctions, and electro-responsivemeans connected across the terminals of said generator and arranged tocontrol the supply of said cooling fluid, said electro-responsive meansbeing adjusted to increase the supply of said cooling fluid when thevoltage of said generator is less than a predetermined amount, and todecrease the supply of said cooling fluid when the voltage of saidenerator exceeds said predetermined amount,

9. In combination, a thermo-electric generator comprising hot and coldjunctions, means for supplying heat to said hot junctions, means forsupplying cooling fluid to said old junctions, and electro-responsivemeans connected across the terminals of said generator and arranged tocontrol said supplies of heat and of cooling fluid, respectively, saidelectro-responsive means being adjusted to increase the amount of heatsup ply and of cooling fluid when the voltage v of said generator isless than a predetermined value and to decrease the amount of heatsupply and of cooling fluid when the voltage of said generator exceedssaid predetermined value.

10. The combination of a thermo-electric damper cooperating with theburner, and electrical means responsive to the terminal electrical meansresponsive to "the terminal voltage of said generator for controllingsaid voltage of said generator for controlling the damper and the supplyof cooling fluid to damper and the supply of fuel and cooling thecooling means. 1-?- 5 fluid to the burner and cooling means re- Intestimony whereof I have signed my spectively. name to thisspecification in the presence of 11. The combination of athermo-electric two subscribing witnesses. enerator, means for supplyingheating me- FRANK D. SHINDEL. dium thereto, a fluid coolin device forsaid Witnesses: 10 enerator, a dam er controlling the flow of W. T.KLEPPINGER,

eating medium t ough said generator, and W. I. ROWLAND.

